The Kent State University Museum celebrated its 40th anniversary with “Dazzle 2025,” an event filled with fashion, hors d’oeuvres, cocktails and the introduction of a new exhibit Oct. 30.

According to Sarah Spinner Liska, director of the Kent State University Museum, “Dazzle 2025” celebrated the museum’s opening in 1985. It paid homage to the original celebration of “Dazzle” and the founding members of the museum, while also celebrating the current success and prestige the museum has garnered over the years.

“It is also a way to really connect the history of the museum to its present and its future,” Spinner Liska said.

The event opened its doors around 6 p.m., where attendees checked in and were released to explore the party.

During the first half an hour, attendees were offered large assortments of appetizers and hors d’oeuvres, which were accompanied by an open bar, free to all attendees.

The event also included two sketch artists who, throughout the night, created images of guests wearing their most glamorous looks.

Attendees also had the opportunity to have their photos taken and participate in a silent auction. All revenue from the silent auction was donated to the museum. 

“There are a lot of friends and partners at the museum that we are going to celebrate. It’s exciting because we have people coming from New York, Chicago, a lot of guests from Cleveland and, of course, our own community,” Spinner Liska said.

At around 6:25 p.m., guests were entertained by a moving performance of “True Colors,” by Cyndi Lauper, performed by a student oboist.

Throughout the performance, guests also made their way to their seats for opening remarks and an awards presentation. Spinner Liska opened the awards portion, taking the audience back in time.

She described the museum as a place that “tells stories,” “champions creativity” and “opens the world to new cultures.” She also thanks sponsors and staff members who have helped the museum’s success over the years.

She made a point to promote the museum’s LeRoy Neiman exhibit, delving briefly into the artist’s life. 

The next speakers were “Dazzle” host co-chairs Karen Conley and Regina Eisenberg, who both spoke briefly about the need to support the arts in society and the impact the museum has had on Kent’s community.

They also honored all the foundations and organizations that were present, explaining that events and exhibits like the ones at the museum would not be able to happen without donor contributions. 

After Conley and Eisenberg spoke, the next speaker was Kent State University President Todd Diacon, who spoke about the museum’s work and the excellence of the event.

He also took the time to speak about the university’s emphasis on the arts and how the success of the museum stems from the multiple donors who chose to support the arts through their pocketbooks.

He ended his speech with resounding appreciation for students and faculty, particularly thanking students for their decision to be a part of KSU. 

In between speakers, a clip began to play promoting the importance and history of the museum, featuring clips of Jean Druesedow, former museum director, Nancy McCann, honorary chair and “Dazzle” award recipient of the Sustaining Leadership Award, Paul Tazewell, Academy Award-winning costume designer and students Michael Moore, junior fashion design major, and Chloe Brosch, sophomore fashion merchandising major.

When the video ended, Diane Petrella, dean of the College of the Arts, was introduced to the stage to present the first award of the evening. 

The award recipients of the evening were McCann, Kyle Smith (Future of Fashion Award) and Catherine Leslie (Excellence in Teaching with the Collection Award).

McCann is the current president and treasurer of the John P. Murphy Foundation, which is dedicated to advocating for the arts in Northeast Ohio and was instrumental in the success of the early days of the museum.

Smith is the first-ever fashion editor for the NFL and is a personal stylist for several football players in the NFL. 

Leslie is a professor at KSU in the School of Fashion Design and Merchandising and was rewarded due to her knowledge and passion for fashion.

Additionally, Leslie has been known to incorporate the museum in her classroom and has taken it upon herself to help students appreciate the museum.

After Leslie received the award, Spinner Liska invited Brosch and Kaitlyn Graham, a KSU alumna, to the stage to present the most dazzling looks of the night.

Three guests were chosen and given a formal pageant scarf titled “Most Dazzled.” One of the winners was Isabelle Rothwell, a junior journalism major. 

“I thought that this was a really good opportunity to be able to dress up and come with my friend Autumn. When I saw the post for the event, I sent it to her, and it just felt like it would be a cool way to have fun,” Rothwell said. 

After the awards were presented, attendees were given the opportunity to explore the museum and be introduced to the exhibits.

The highlight of the museum was the “LeRoy Neiman: A Keen Observer of Style” exhibit, the newest addition to the museum that featured the artist’s fashion sketches as a partnership with the LeRoy Neiman and Janet Byrne Neiman Foundation in New York City. 

“He was a very famous painter, and he was the official painter for the Olympics. He painted celebrities and athletes, and he actually worked through the 1950s through the 1990s,” Spinner Liska said. 

Around 7:45 p.m., the event began to wrap up, announcing the recipients in the silent auction. After the winners were announced, Spinner Liska offered parting words to the guests, thanking them for their support, before guests began to leave Rockwell Hall. 

“The museum serves our university, it serves our community—it really brings a beautiful kind of platform where our university community can meet a kind of a public audience and local community,” Spinner Liska said.

Ava Dunn is a reporter. Contact her at [email protected].